Abdominal protection apron

ABSTRACT

AN OBDOMINAL PROTECTION APRON OF THE TYPE WHICH IS WORN ABOUT THE ABDOMEN TO PROTECT AGAINST KNIFE WOUNDS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED ARCUATE SHAPED SEGMENTS WHICH ARE INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER. EACH OF THE SEGMENTS CONSISTS OF A SHEET OF SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PUNCTURE-RESISTANT MATERIAL HAVING A CURVATURE LOOSELY CONFORMING TO THE CURVATURE OF THE HUMAN ABDOMEN. THE TWO SEGMENTS ARE PIVOTABLY CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER TO PERMIT THE WEARER TO BEND FORWARD WHEN THE APRON IS IN USE. A SUPPORTING MEANS IS SECURED TO THE APRON FOR POSITIONING IT IN A POSITION OVERLYING THE ABDOMEN OF THE WEARER.   D R A W I N G

Oct. 12, 1971 E GREGG EI'AL 3,611,488

ABDOMINAL PROTECTION APRON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 19, 1969 FIG. '1

FIG. 2

IN VliN'l ()R S. JOH N EDWARD GREGG BY JOHN NELSON BRANNIGAN fla A4 FIG. 3

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 12, 1971 GREGG-g ETAL ABDOMINAL PROTECTION APRON 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed D80. 19, 1969 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

I N VLiN I ()RS. JOHN EDWARD' GREGG BY JOHN NELSOMBRANNIGAN Wagna ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,611,438 ABDOMINAL PROTECTION APRON John Edward Gregg, Scarborough, and John Nelson Brannigan, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada, assignors to Safety Supply Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Dec. 19, 1969, Ser. No. 886,561 Int. Cl. A41d 13/04 US. Cl. 2-51 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An abdominal protection apron of the type which is worn about the abdomen to protect against knife wounds and the like comprising at least two transversely disposed arcuate shaped segments which are integrally connected to one another. Each of the segments consists of a sheet of substantially rigid puncture-resistant material having a curvature loosely conforming to the curvature of the human abdomen. The two segments are pivotably connected to one another to permit the wearer to bend forward when the apron is in use. A supporting means is secured to the apron for positioning it in a position overlying the abdomen of the wearer.

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to protective clothing. In particular, this invention relates to an abdominal protection apron suitable for use by butchers and the like to protect against knife wounds.

PRIOR ART In the meat processing industry, butchers frequently inflict wounds upon themselves while cutting meat. The wounds are usually caused when the butchers knife strikes a bone and is deflected. The majority of the wounds which are inflicted occur in the area of the abdomen. Several devices have been previously designed to protect against wounds in this area. However, these have not proved to be satisfactory. Presently, many butchers simply wear a relatively narrow strip of reinforced belting about their waists. This type of protection is quite unsatisfactory due to the fact that it does not cover a sufficiently wide area. It is not possible to overcome this problem by simply increasing the width of the belting due to the fact that this would considerably restrict the wearer when attempting to bend forward. When the wearer of a protective apron bends forward, the apron must bend and it must also make allowance for the shortening of the abdomen which results from bending forward. In the known devices, no allowance is made for this type of movement.

Various forms of flexible aprons have been considered but these do not provide sufficient protection. Even if a puncture-proof flexible apron is used, considerable pain can be experienced by the force of the impact on a flexible apron.

SUM-MARY The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art described above by providing an apron which is made from a substantially rigid puncture-resistant material and which is adapted to permit the wearer to bend forward without difliculty.

The invention also provides an improved abdominal protection apron including an improved harness for maintaining the apron in the required position in use.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an abdominal protection apron of the type which is worn about the abdomen to protect against knife wounds and the like comprises at least two transversely disposed arcuate shaped segments which are integrally connected to one another. Each of the segments consists of a sheet of subice stantially rigid puncture-resistant material having a curvature loosely conforming to the curvature of the human abdomen. The two segments are pivotably connected to one another to permit the wearer to bend forward when the apron is in use. A supporting means is secured to the apron for positioning it in a position overlying the abdomen of the wearer.

The invention will be more clearly understood after reference to the following detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an assembled apron;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the means connecting adjacent segments of the apron;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the apron in the position adopted when the wearer bends forward; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 refers generally to an apron according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apron consists of a first segment 12, a second segment 14 and a third segment 16. The segments 12', 14 and 16 are each made from a sheet of substantially rigid puncture-resistant material, such as high density polyethylene. The segments could also be made from Nylon (trademark), Lexan (trademark), Luvex (trademark) or the like. The selection of the material may depend upon the environment in which the apron is used. Polyethylene has been found to be suitable for use in the meat industry as it can be easily cleaned to prevent the growth of bacteria.

Each of the segments is arcuate shaped and has a curvature loosely conforming to the curvature of the abdomen of the wearer. If necessary, various sizes of aprons may be provided by varying the curvature of the arcuate shaped segments. However, generally the fit is sufficiently loose to accommodate the very large range of sizes.

The first segment 12 has a pair of harness mounting lugs 18 formed integrally therewith and extending upwardly from the upper edge thereof at spaced apart intervals. A pair of slots 20 are formed adjacent opposite side edges of the first segment to receive opposite ends of the waist band 22 of the harness. The first segment 12 is held in its required position on the wearer by means of a barness generally indicated by the reference numeral 24. The harness includes the waist band 22 which is adjustable and has quick release catches '26 located at either end. The catches 26 fit two eyes 28 carried by looped straps 30 which fit through the openings 20 formed at the side edges of the top segment. Loops 32 connect eyes 34 to the lugs 18 of the upper segment 12. Quick release catches 36 connect one end of each adjustable shoulder straps 38 to the eyes 34. The straps 38 are of a sufficient length to extend over the shoulders of the wearer to pass through a strap retainer plate 40 to be connected at their other ends 42 to the waist band 22. The strap retainer plate 40 has proved to be an extremely valuable addition to the harness as it serves to restrict the relative movement of one strip relative to another and thereby stabilize the apron on the wearer. Preferably, the retainer plate 40 is made from a plastics material, such as high density polyethylene and it is formed with a first transversely extending slot 44 into which both of the straps 38 are inserted. The straps 38 cross over one another in the area of the slot 44 and pass through slots 46 at the other end of the retainer member. The slots 46' are obliquely disposed relative to the slot 44 and they are spaced apart a sufficient distance to maintain the straps in a spaced apart relationship. The harness straps are preferably made from a flexible plastics material, such as flexible polyethylene or Nylon (trademark) and permanent connections, such as the securing of the looped straps 32 with the opening formed in the lugs 18 is achieved by heat sealing or otherwise bonding the strap, preferably without the use of rivets which would provide inaccessible areas difiicult to clean, thereby encouraging the growth of bacteria. It has been found that the use of the strap retaining member of the present invention helps to retain the straps in their required location. Without the strap retainer plate, the harness is free to slide from the shoulders of the wearer and it is rather inclined to do this when the wearer bends over. It is to be understood, however, that the apron of the present invention may be used without this strap retainer.

As previously indicated, the segment 12 is of the arcuate shape adapted to conform approximately to the curvature of the human abdomen. To ensure considerable flexibility of the apron, it is desirable to limit the length of the first segment to that which can be retained in the fixed position about the waste level of the wearer while permitting free bending. Preferably, the height of the first segment measured between the upper edge and the lower edge is within the range of 4 to 7 inches and, preferably, about five inches. If the first segment is limited to this height, it can be accommodated about the waste area of the wearer while permitting the wearer to bend reasonably freely. If the first segment were too long, it would substantially restrict the freedom of movement of the wearer. If the segment is too short, it would olfer a very limited amount of protection.

As previously indicated, each of the segments 12, 14 and 16 is preferably made from a substantially rigid highdensity plastics material which is resistant to puncturing by a knife. The rigidity of the plastics material prevents injury in the form of bruises which are possible when a flexible material is used. Furthermore, by using a plastics material, a relatively light weight structure is provided which can be worn without difiiculty. In addition, in the meat and food industry, the plastics material can be selected to be easily sterilized and steam-cleaned for hygienic purposes.

An important feature of this invention is the manner in which the first, second and third segments are connected to one another. The first segment 12' has a pair of longitudinally extending slots 50 located adjacent each intersection of the lower edge 52 and side edges 54 of the top segment. In the intermediate segment 14, slots 50 are provided adjacent each intersection of the lower edge 56 and side edges 58. The upper edges 60 of the intermediate and lower segments 14 and 16 are each formed with longitudinally extending lugs 62 located at each end thereof. Pivot pins 64 are mounted in each lug 62 and extend through the lug 62 and through the elongated slots 50 to a securing washer or lock-washer 66. Preferably, the pivot pins or rivets 64 are in the form of plastic rivets which are locked in switchable locking washers 66. The pivot pin 64 has a body portion 68 which is freely slidable Within the elongated slots 50.

It is important to note that the plane in which the pivot pin 68 extends is disposed above the plane in which the major portion of the upper edge 60 extends. This characteristic enables the intermediate and lower segments to pivot about the pivot pins 64. Dilference in height between the planes of the pivot pin 64 and the major portion of the plane of the upper edge 60 is shown by the dimension X in FIG. 2. It has been found that the dimension X may conveniently measure about one inch.

When the apron is in the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the weight of the segments 14 and 16 tend to cause the pivot pins 64 to be located adjacent the lower end of the slots 50 with the result that the apron provides the maximum protective length. When the wearer bends forward, the segments will begin to pivot relative to one another. Simultaneously, with bending forward, the apron will tend to shorten by causing the pivot pin 64 to slide from the lower position shown in FIG. 2 to the upper position shown in FIG. 5. The sliding of the pivot pin within the slot '50 serves to shorten the length of the apron and thereby facilitating bending. This ability to shorten is an important feature of the present invention which greatly increases the comfort to the wearer. It will also be noted that by only retaining the upper segment in a fixed position, the lower and intermediate segments are free to pivot away from the body of the wearer when bending forward with the result that the lower edges of the intermediate bottom segment do not tend to dig into the body of the wearer. During the bending from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the apron presents a substantially continuous protection surface against which a knife may be directed without inflicting a severe injury on the wearer. While there will inevitably be a small gap between the overlapping portions of the segments when the wearer is bending over, it will be noted that when the bending has been completed, whether it be only partially bending or not, the protective surface will be substantially continuous due to the fact that the weight of,- the lower sections will tend to cause the segments to pivot about pivot pins 64 so that the upper edges 60 will make contact with the front face of the first and second segments, as shown in FIG. 5.

Various modifications of the present invention will come to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the apron may, if desired, be made from four or more segments. In addition, the lower segment may be shaped at its lower edge to provide a clearance for the legs of the wearer or to protect the crotch. In addition, the side edges of each of the segments may be formed with an upwardly protecting rib or edge to prevent the knife from skidding over the edge of the apron.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An abdominal protection apron comprising: an upper segment and at least one subsequent segment arranged one below the other and consisting of a sheet of substantially rigid puncture-proof material having a curvature loosely conforming to the curvature of a human abdomen, each of said segments having upper and lower transversely extending edges and a pair of longitudinally extending side edges, the upper edge of each subsequent segment being arranged in an outwardly overlapping relationship with the preceding segment, the upper edge of each of said subsequent segments being formed to provide a pair of lugs projecting upwardly from the plane of the center portion of the upper edge adjacent each side edge, means pivotally connecting said lugs to the underlying side edge portions of said preceding segment to permit said segments to pivot between a first position wherein they are disposed in substantially parallel planes and a second position wherein the segments are obliquely disposed with respect to one another to permit the wearer to bend forward and means for supporting said apron on the wearer.

2. An apron, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said segments is made from high density polyethylene.

3. An apron, as claimed in claim 1, said supporting means including a support harness consisting of a pair of straps having one end connected to the upper segment at spaced apart locations adjacent the upper edge thereof and extending upwardly therefrom to cross over one another, to be connected at the other ends thereof, to the side edges of said first segment and a strap retainer memher for determining the location of the cross over of the said straps, said strap retainer member comprising a plate having a pair of slots obliquely disposed relative to one another adjacent one end of said plate, and a further slot extending transversely of the plate adjacent the other end thereof, one of said straps passing through each of said obliquely disposed slots and both of said straps passing through said transversely extending slot to lock said straps in a fixed position relative to one another.

4. An abdominal protection apron comprising: an upper segment and at least one subsequent segment arranged one below the other, each of said segments consisting of a sheet of substantially rigid puncture-proof material having a curvature loosely conforming to the curvature of a human abdomen, each of said segments having an upper transversely extending edge, a lower transversely extending edge and a pair of longitudinally extending side edges, the upper side edges of each subsequent segment being arranged in an outwardly overlapping relationship with respect to the preceding segment, said upper segment and each subsequent segment, with the exception of the lowest segment, being formed with a pair of longitudinally extending slots located one adjacent each intersection of the lower and side edges and extending substantially parallel to one another, the upper edge of each of said subsequent segments being formed to provide a pair of lugs projecting upwardly from the plane of the center portion of the upper edge adjacent each side edge, pivot pin means rigidly mounted in each of said lugs of said subsequent segments above the plane of the center portion of the upper edge of said subsequent segments and slidably mounted in said slots of the preceding segments, the segments being pivotable between the first position wherein they are disposed in substantially parallel planes and the second position wherein the segments are obliquely disposed with respect to one another to permit the wearer to bend forward and means for supporting said apron on the wearer.

5. An apron, as claimed in claim 4, wherein each segment is made from high density polyethylene.

6. An abdominal protection apron comprising: at least three arcuate shaped segments each consisting of a sheet of substantially rigid puncture-proof material having a curvature loosely conforming to the curvature of the abdomen which is to be protected in use, a first of said segments being a top segment having an upper transversely extending edge and a lower transversely extending edge and a pair of longitudinally extending side edges, said first segment being formed with a pair of longitudinally extending slots located one adjacent each intersection of the lower and side edges and extending substantially parallel to one another, a second of said segments being an intermediate segment having an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of longitudinally extending side edges, the upper edge of said second segment being formed to provide a pair of lugs projecting upwardly from the plane of the center portion of said upper edge adjacent each side edge, a pivot pin mounted on each of said lugs of said second segment above the plane of the center portion of the upper edge and slidably mounted in said slots of said upper segment in a close fitting sliding relationship, said second section being disposed in an outwardly overlying relationship with respect to said first segment and being pivotable between a first position wherein said first and second segments are disposed in substantially parallel planes and a second position wherein said second segment is obliquely disposed with respect to said first segment to permit the wearer to bend forward, said second segment having a pair of longitudinally extending slots located one adjacent each intersection of the lower edges and side edges and extending substantially parallel to one another, a third of said segments being a bottom segment having an upper top edge, a lower edge and a pair of longitudinally extending side edges, the upper edge of said third segment being formed to provide a pair of lugs projecting upwardly from the plane of the center portion of its upper edge, a pivot pin mounted in each of said lugs of said third segment above the plane of the center portion of the upper edge and slidably mounted in said slots of said upper segment in a close fitting relationship, said third section being disposed in an outwardly overlying relationship with respect to said second segment and being pivotable between a first position wherein said second and third segments are disposed in substantially parallel planes and a second position wherein said third segment is obliquely disposed with respect to said second segment to permit the wearer to bend forward and means for supporting said apron on the wearer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,478,349 12/ 19 23 Oberndorfer 25l FOREIGN PATENTS 1,247,420 10/ 1960 France 25 1 OTHER REFERENCES German printed application, Koch, 1,020,284, December 1957.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner 

